Through the Eyes of a Lens

November 1, 2015

I love Minnesota!

I love that every season brings with it a new breathe of beauty, texture, color and details more breathtaking than the last. Once the fire driven color of fall leaves have given way to the ground, there is a touch of sadness that life is passing. Looking out over so many fields this time of year, it is easy to blow past the rolling hills of brown as sad remnants of summer. I hear so many already yearning for spring.

But, as a photographer, I tend to embrace this time and encourage everyone to pause and take a closer look.

When I step to this field and lift the eye of my lens, it is this delicate texture that I see.

On this perfect fall Sunday afternoon, I don't know what was more beautiful, the delicate pale textures that remained or the elegant beauty of Inver Grove Heights senior Alicia. Working on this girls preview will definitely be a task I look forward to! Until then, everyone... enjoy this most perfect Minnesota fall!

Trash the Dress? No way!

October 5, 2015

I have been honored to know Alissa for many, many years. I have loved her for her wild spirit, outspoken nature and joyful heart. In recent years, I have seen this heart grow to include Michael and the joy between them as they married and began a life together.

Before her wedding event took place, Alissa was already planning her Trash the Dress shoot with me. Normally, this is a day filled with water, mud, paint, even fire. (When brides go out and simply enjoy a modeling session where anything can and will happen to her dress. I mean, it's not like you are gonna wear it again!)

Alissa was a perfect candidate for that. The problem? Um, hello! Have you seen how gorgeous that wedding dress was?! There was absolutely NO WAY we were going to do ANYTHING that would destroy this gorgeous work of art.

So, with a gorgeous fall afternoon in tow, we simply headed out to one of my favorite parks and captured time. Beautiful simple moments between two hearts - something that a busy wedding day left so little time for. We didn't need to trash anything. The beauty of what had been built between Michael and Alissa over the past 4 years was all we needed!

And, in the first 10 minutes, we had already captured all I ever hoped for.

Beautiful Girls, A Beautiful Day!

August 30, 2015

I have been honored to know Elise and Lilli for some time, and even more honored to work with them over multiple occasions as they explore a potential path in professional modeling. Saturday marked one more step in their journey as we took in the beautiful day in downtown Saint Paul.

While the course of our plans may not have gone exactly as we expected, there was never any worry on my part as these beautiful girls know how to BRING IT and how to bring it in a BIG WAY!

Great job, Elise and Lilli! I cannot wait to photograph you again!

Get Dressed for Fashion Week!

August 27, 2015

Working within the fashion industry is always an inspiring aesthetic in which to paint the landscape of your life. You are surrounded by creative people, beautiful things and encouraged to share your work with the joy and talents of others.

This past week, I was honored to work with the design team at MiTa as they prepared to launch sales of their latest couture gowns as part of Showroom's 'Get Dressed for Fashion Week' event. The dresses were beautifully detailed, vibrant and structured to show the amazing assets of a woman's body. Though I won't be likely wearing one anytime soon (too much dieting to do!), I definitely encourage everyone to check them out on facebook!

PS. The day after our shoot, they did a flash mob fashion event in Minneapolis, so perhaps you saw them on WCCO & KARE 11!

Models
SARAH HOLOVNIA
LIZZ GULLICKSON

Makeup
LAURIE CHARBONEAU

Styling
SHERITA MOSS
MIMI NGUYEN

Creative Director
PARKER PARKER

Positive words from the client are always such wonderful things to hear. They were such a fun and talented group. Definitely made my job easy!

A Disney Inspired Engagement

July 17, 2015

As most people know, I do not do a lot of weddings in my body of work. While they are always beautiful and fun events, I simply tend to focus on other genres that play to my greatest passions - storytelling and invention.

Then I met Bryanna and Zach.

From the moment they began telling me of their personal interests in the performing arts, to the fun design for their wedding reception, I knew this was going to be a couple I would adore working with for their wedding. With a passion for movies, performance and stories, their engagement session would not become simply a documentation of a moment or a ring, but instead the channeling of three Disney stories following the journey of love.

Today's post features just one of those stories - the kind, lasting love of 101 Dalmatian's Roger and Anita. Seeing Bryanna and Zach navigate the journey of our shoot, it was clear from every moment they looked towards each other's eyes to the way Zach touched and guided Bryanna with such chivalry that theirs was just that. A lasting love that will guide the way of many beautiful stories to come.

A Tribute to Military Families

June 21, 2015

Now that the event is wrapped and photos shipped to the foundation, I am delighted to finally share images from the Dedication Ceremony for the Military Family Tribute at the State Capitol on June 13, 2015

With noteworthy speakers including former Governor Tim Pawlenty and his wife, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Governor Mark Dayton, General Nash and General Votel, it was an engaging day and an exceptionally wonderful experience that I will not soon forget.

Visit my Military Family Tribute album to see more images from the day. Or, visit the State Capital grounds to experience the Thank You Promenade, Story Stone Garden and Gold Star Table for yourself. To learn more, visit www.militaryfamilytribute.org.

Thank you to Caroline Zrust for her help in capturing images from this event and a special shout out to Constellation X Photography (Cat Banks) for collaboration on a very rainy, but quite unforgettable day!